Liquid atomizer



Aug. 20, 1929. H. THOMAS 1,725,381

` LIQUID AToMizER Filed April 19. 1926 fr y! INVENTOR 17e/v? Themas,

Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,725,381. OFFICE.

PATENT HENRY THOMAS, F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEHEMSTEEL COMPANY.

LIQUID ATOMIZER.

Application led April 19, 1926. Serial N0. 102,914.

My invention relates to an atomizer or spraying' device for theatomization of a liquid such as oil, water, or any other desired liquid,wherein the atomization is caused by the pressure of the liquid itself.It is customary with such devices to vary the amount of liquid sprayedby adjusting the initial'pressure thereof and also to provide` athrottling means contained within the device itself for varying itscapacity.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel construction ofa liquid atomizer. wherein a novel means is employed within the atomizerto control the capacity thereof.

The novel features will be more fully understood from the followingdescription and claim taken with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an atomizer embodying my invention;Y

Fig. 2 is a partial view of Fig. 1 somewhat enlarged;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the atomizing disk;

`Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the disk shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the shut-off plug;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the plug shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating'a modified form of myinvention.

Referring to the drawings; 10 designates the body portion of my devicewhich is provided with recess 11, a portion of which is threaded toreceive the externally threaded end of the supply conduit l1.2. Thelatter communicates with the source of liquid supply which it is desiredto atomize, it being understood that. the liquid is forced through saidconduit under any desired or predetermined pressure. The body 10 isbored centrally and is threaded, as at 13, to receive the shut-off plughereinafter referred to. It will be noted that the diameter of thecentral bore 13 is less than the diameter of the recess 11 and thusprovides a thickened wall portion 14.

An annular recess 15 is formed in the forward face of the wall portion14 and communicates with the recess 11 by means of the passageways 16.Seated on the forward face of the body 10 is an atomizing disk 17, whichis provided with a rearwardly extending projection 18 adapted to fit inthe central bore 13. The atomizing disk is bored nular recess 21. Thelatter recess is disposed in registry with the recess 15 andcommunicates with the recess 20 by means of the passageway 22 formed inthe disk 17. The for- Y ward face of the latter is dished as at 23 toprovide a seat for the tip 24. Tangential ports or ducts are provided inthe forward face of the disk 17 to afford communication between therecess 20 and the central bore 19. The tip 24 is beveled at one of itscorners, as at 25, to adapt itself to the seat 23 and is provided with acentral orifice 26 which is flared rearwardly and outwardly, as at 27,and converges towards the wall defining the hole 19, so that the flow ofatomized liquid is unrestricted.

A nut 28 is provided to engage the threaded'portion 29 of the body 10and serves to secure the tip 24 and the disk 17 in position. Theshut-off plug 30 comprises a threaded portion 31 adapted to engage thethreaded portion 13 of the body 10 and a plain cylindrical portion 32adapted to slidingly fit the bore 19 of the atomizing disk 17.

The shut-ofi' plug 30 serves to control the liquid delivered from thetangential ports 25 to' the nebulizing chamber 33, which is defined bythe wall of the hole 19, the end plug 30 a-nd flaring portion of theorifice 20. By rotating the shut-off plug 30 a longitudinal movement isimparted thereto so that it may extend a greater or lesser distance intothe bore 19, and in this manner the nebulizing chamber 33 may beadjusted in size to suit the varying conditions, such as different kindsof liquids to be atomized and different pressures thereof, withoutchanging the general outlines or shape of the chamber.

The cylindrical portion 32 of the shut-off plug 30 may be advanced tovary the size of the exit of the ports 25 to restrict the flow of theliquid or to completely shut ofi' the exits and prevent the flow ofliquid. In order to manipulate the atomizer beyond the supply conduit, Iprovide a spindle 34 which is mounted in the closure 35 in a suitablebearing to allow free rotation of the spindle and prevent axial movementthereof. The spindle 34 extends within the supply conduit 12 aud isprovided with a flattened end portion adapted to engage with a kerf 36formed in the shut-off plug 30. To manipulate the ser - vided.

Referring to Fig. 7, I show a modified type of shut-0E plug 30 and amodified form of tip 24. The plug 30 is provided with a conveXl shapedend surface 37 and the rear face of the tip 24 is provided with acomplementary concave seat 38. In this form the plug 80 may be advancedagainst the seat 38 to positively shut off the atomizer. In operation,assuming the shut-off plug tol be in the position shown in Fig. l,liquid under pressure is supplied to the conduit 12 and passes throughthe passageway 16, passageways 22 tothe annular recess 20 and thenthrough the tangential ports 25 which gives it a whirling motion intothe nebulizing chamber 33 by which it is atomized as it passes out ofthe orifice 26. By manipulating the hand wheel 37 the plug 30 may beadvanced or retracted to `vary the size of the chamber 33. It may alsobe manipulated to vary the size of the outlets of the ports 25 orcompletely close said ,ports and rprevent the flow of the liquid.

lFrom the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a simple andnovel liquid atomizer which may be easily manipulated to vary the degreeof atomization desired.

IVhile I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not. so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications without departing from thespirit Y thereof, andI desire, therefore, that only claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a liquid atomizer, the combination of a supply conduit, Va bodymember connected to said conduit, a chamber in the body member in opencommunication with the conduit, an annular channel at the forward end ofthe body member, a central recess extending from said chamber to theforward end of the body member, passageways communicating said annularchannel with said chamber, a disk member fitting against the outer endof the body member and having an annular channel, an axial nebulizingchamber in the disk member, tangential grooves at the forward side ofsaid disk having their inner ends opening into said nebulizing chamberandtheir outer ends intersecting the annular channel formed in saiddisk, passageways communicating said last mentioned annular channel withthe annular channel formed in said body, a tip member engaging said diskmember, an orifice formed in said tip member and in registry with saidnebulizing chamber, a nut member engaging said body member and said tipmember, an adjustable plug member mounted to Vbe moved axially in saidnebulizing chamber, and shaped to vary by its'adjustment the effectivesize of said chamber and of the openings of said tangential grooves intosaid nebulizing chamber, and manipulative means extending eX- teriorlyof the atomizer for adjusting said plug member.

In testimonyy whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 6th day "ofApril, 1926.

HENRY THOMAS.

